Selfish or generous, kind or mean.
Those are choices, and there’s plenty of evidence that chunks of our culture are choosing the path of the bully. Lots of shouting, line-drawing, name-calling, lie-telling, wall-building. It’s all about power–we win, you lose, no matter the cost.
Easy to lose sight of the many who choose to build longer tables rather than bigger walls, those who share rather than hoard. Easy to miss the many who refuse to live in fear, who embrace diversity, who stand for truth.
Easy to overlook those who work tirelessly to build communities in which folks understand the notion of abundance and shared sacrifice, in which there don’t need to be winners and losers.
It’s easy to miss generosity and sacrifice because the bullies make lots of noise. They bluster and pound their fists because they’re insecure, because they need attention. They want us to fight back, to wear goofy hats and shout and get violent. That’s their game, and if we play, they’ll win.
Jesus showed us how to deal with bullies. First, don’t be one.
Be generous. Go the extra mile. Be kind. Welcome the stranger. Hang out with outcasts and folks who are different. Be peacemakers. Seek justice.
Simple stuff, really. Not easy, of course, or safe, but He never said anything about easy or safe.
Long-term stuff, the sort of thing we try to get involved with on the FREEDOM TOUR. We’re just one small group, but if you look around you’ll notice lots more.
The bullies can do some damage, but they always lose in the end. Light always drives out darkness, eventually.
Here’s one small point of light. Let’s each add what we can.